Page 35 of 464

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located 
in each door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position1 or2 (
page 31).
or
Press the KEYLESS GO* start/stop 
button once or twice (
page 33).
or
Open the driver’s or passenger door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward 
in the direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating 
position that still allows you to reach 
the accelerator / brake pedal safely. 
The position should be as far to the rear 
as possible, consistent with ability to 
properly operate controls.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints 
are not properly secured in the vehicle and 
the child is not properly secured in the child 
restraint.
iWhen moving the seat, make sure 
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could 
damage the seats.
The memory function (
page 116) lets 
you store the setting for the seat posi-
tion together with the setting for the 
steering wheel and the exterior rear 
view mirrors. 
     
        
        Page 37 of 464

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Folding front seat backrests forward
1Release leverFolding backrests forward
Pull release lever1 forward and fold 
the seat backrest forward.
The head restraint will automatically 
move down.
Folding backrests back
Fold and press the backrest rearward 
until it engages in driving position.
The head restraint returns to its previ-
ous position.
For more information, see “Easy-entry/ex-
it feature” (
page 109).
Steering wheel
iIn addition to the front seat backrests, 
the front seat cushions can also be 
shifted forward to permit easy access 
to the rear whenever the seat is located 
in the rear half of its adjustment range. 
Swivel backrest forward by pulling the 
release lever until the seat moves in a 
combined forward and upward move-
ment.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of 
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
* with you and 
lock your vehicle.
The steering wheel adjustment feature can 
also be operated with the driver’s door 
open. Do not leave children unattended in 
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious 
personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 38 of 464

38 Getting startedAdjustingSteering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is 
located on the steering column (lower left).
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position1or2 (
page 31).
or
Press the KEYLESS GO* start/stop 
button once or twice (
page 33).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow 1 until a comfortable 
steering wheel position is reached with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move stalk up or down in the direction 
of arrow 2. 
Make sure your legs can move freely 
and all the displays (incl. malfunction 
and indicator lamps) on the instrument 
cluster are clearly visible.
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view 
mirrors before driving so that you have a 
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view 
mirror.
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
ror” (page 168)
iThe memory function (
page 116) lets 
you store the setting for the steering 
wheel together with the setting for the 
seat position and exterior rear view 
mirrors.
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte 
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror 
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with 
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system. 
In case it does, immediately flush affected 
area with water, and seek medical help if 
necessary. 
     
        
        Page 41 of 464

41 Getting started
Driving
The seat belt presenter for driver and pas-
senger makes it easier to put on the seat 
belt.
1Seat belt presenter
The seat belt presenter slides out when the 
corresponding door is closed and the 
SmartKey in the starter switch or 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button are in 
position1 or2.
According to accident statistics, children 
are safer when properly restrained in the 
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children 
must ride in back seats and be seated in an 
appropriate infant or child restraint system, 
which is properly secured with the vehicle's 
seat belt or lower anchors, fully in accor-
dance with the child seat manufacturer's 
instructions.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints 
are not properly secured in the vehicle and 
the child is not properly secured in the child 
restraint.Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle 
than there are seat belts available. Make 
sure everyone riding in the vehicle is cor-
rectly restrained with a separate seat belt.
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat 
backrest reclined. Sitting in an excessively 
reclined position can be dangerous. You 
could slide under the seat belt in a collision. 
If you slide under it, the belt would apply 
force at the abdomen or neck. This could 
cause serious or even fatal injuries. The seat 
backrest and seat belt provide the best re-
straint when the wearer is in an upright po-
sition and the belt is properly positioned on 
the body.Warning!
G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security” 
section (
page 62). 
     
        
        Page 44 of 464
44 Getting startedDrivingAutomatic transmissionGearshift pattern for automatic 
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever 
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic 
transmission” (
page 157).Starting with the SmartKey
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress accelerator
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position3 (
page 31) and release it 
again immediately ("touch-start").
The engine then starts automatically.
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine 
with the SmartKey, see (
page 54).Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the 
SmartKey in the starter switch using the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the 
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
     
        
        Page 45 of 464

45 Getting started
Driving
M a k e  s u r e  t h e  g e a r  s e l e c t o r  l e v e r  i s  s e t  
toP.
Do not depress accelerator
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 once.
The engine starts automatically if the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the 
vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 55).Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described, 
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the 
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter 
switch to position0 and repeat starting 
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with 
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that 
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as 
radio signals from another source may 
be interfering with the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure 
(page 43). Remember that extended 
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 388).
If the engine does not start after several 
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the 
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center. 
     
        
        Page 46 of 464

46 Getting startedDrivingParking brake 
1Parking brake pedal
2Parking brake release handle
Release the parking brake by pulling on 
handle2.
The indicator lamp ; (USA only) 
or3 (Canada only) in the clock 
goes out.Driving
Depress the brake pedal.
Move gear selector lever in 
positionDorR.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator 
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the automat-
ic central locking system engages and the 
locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution. 
This allows the catalytic converter to reach 
its operating temperature earlier.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the 
parking brake, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from the 
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system 
(page 149).
!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release 
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.iWait for the gear selection process to 
complete before setting the vehicle in 
motion. 
     
        
        Page 50 of 464

50 Getting startedDrivingWiping with windshield washer fluid
Push combination switch in the direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance 
point.
The windshield wipers operate with 
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system*” 
(
page 295).
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off 
immediately.
For safety reasons,
turn off the engine by turning 
the SmartKey to position 0 and 
withdraw SmartKey from starter 
switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing 
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button and open the driver’s 
door (with the driver’s door 
open, starter switch is in posi-
tion 0, same as with SmartKey 
removed from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any 
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on 
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at 
all in switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center